#hooks
- Acanthocephalan — An obligatory parasitic thorny-headed worm belonging to the phylum Acanthocephala, characterized by the complete absence of a digestive tract and the presence of an anterior, retractable proboscis armed with rows of rigid hooks or spines. This specialized organ is used exclusively for firm attachment to the intestinal wall of vertebrate hosts (fish, birds, mammals), with nutrient absorption occurring directly through the parasite's porous outer tegument.